Israeli Military incursion: Catching Terrorists or a collective punishment Wed,
February 14, 2002

The town of Beit Hanoun, located on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip,
has witnessed an overwhelming show of Israeli military force. In the early
hours of February 13th, about 35 heavy tanks stormed the small town from
the eastern edge creating horror and panic on the residents. Under the
cover of heavy machine gunfire and shelling, the tanks forced their way
into the streets and homes of the terrified civilian population.

Soldiers attacked homes turning furniture's upside down on sleeping family
members. Boldourzers plowed into farms leveling down agriculultre trees
and vegetable plants. The Israeli incursion continued for hours, approximately
till 6:00 AM. The tanks returned to its bases. However, a couple of hours
later, another convoy of tanks drove again in the middle of town. This
time, Palestinian youngsters and children, about 300 of them, faced the
advancing tanks with rocks. The tanks fired at the children from machine
guns positioned on top of each tank. One young man by the name Amjad Hamad
from the Beit Hanoun was killed as a result of three bullets. Israeli military
killed another civilian from the nearby Jabaliaya camp named Musa Abu Shinnar,
30 years old.

At the same time, and in a similar practice, Israeli tanks were firing
and shelling other parts of the Gaza Strip primarily in the Deir Balah
area in middle of the Gaza Strip. The Tanks advanced on this town from
the eastern border of the Gaza Strip as soldiers fired heavily and indiscriminately
at homes and civilians on the way. Three people were killed as a result.
The gunfire killed three policemen. They were Abed Hassanat, 30 years old,
Shadi Al Hassanat, 24 years old and Khaled Abu Sitta, 25 years. Also, there
were 18 cases of injuries reported as very serious.

International media mentioned a brief reporting about this incursion. CNN
cover was only about few seconds reporting that it was ・a military operation
to arrest terrorists・ No details of the havoc and terror on the Palestinian
community resulted from the incursion. The BBC was not that different in
tone and content.

Israeli government spokesperson always states that such military incursions
are justifiable in order to arrest ・terrorists・ However, Palestinians
see it entirely differently and much express regret that many in the international
community buy the Israeli argument. People here in the occupied territories
view it as Israeli official policy of Collective Punishment. Sharon's government
intends to break down the will of the Palestinian people in order to submit
to the law of Israeli occupation. A terrorist does not wait for an Israeli
column of tanks to come and be arrested. He, be whatever one call him,
a terrorist a freedom Fighter or a resitantce fighter knows very well his
moves. Any Palestinian would say that and also would shrugs off Israel's
unfounded claim of arresting such individuals.

So, why the incursions? Incursions allow Israel to attempt to break down
the will of the Palelsniains by destroying one segment of the economy;
agricultural farms and productive trees. Beit Hanoun area is famous for
producing the largest amount of oranges in the Gaza Strip. Many locals
depend on the annual income of the orange crops. Now, it is the beginning
of the orange season and many farmers look forward to this time. Unfortunately,
Israeli tanks and bulldozers storms in from the borderline to uproot the
trees and even bury them with giant military machines.

One farmer in the Beit-Lahia town, only few KM east of Beit Hanounn faced
the same predicament. His farm was adjacent to a settlement called Eli
Sinai. The Palestinian farmer owned a fig farm, which he was very proud
of. He used to boost that his farm made the best figs in the Gaza Strip.
At the end of summer, fig season, he used to pick each fig one by one.
The entire family, including his married sons, depended on the annual farm
for an income. One night, the Israeli tanks and bulldozers attacked the
farm killing all the fig trees. Some of the trees could not be seen. The
tanks buried them.

Next day, the farmer was in deep shock. He threw his hands in the air,
how can trees be guilty? What crime did they do to Israel? He watched
the assassinated trees with immense sadness. He said, I feel my life, my
self, buried here not my trees. He continued, I pray to Almighty God that
Israel pay for this crime one day.

Israel has a policy, however, not a declared one. The policy is to make
life impossible for the Palestinians step by step. Otherwise, a policy
to be implemented with full-scale force may bring world condemnation and
eventually may lead to undesirable results for Israel. For example, if
world opinion turns sharply against Israel, the UN may find itself obliged
to send an International Protection force to the Palestinians or seriously
call for an end to Israeli occupation, or possibly call for an economic
embargo against Israel. In addition, some international voices may demand
the arrest of Israeli army generals who are committing crimes against humanity.
To Israeli politicians, such scenarios are to be avoided at all costs.
That is why we hear in the news of occasional incursions, but regular,
attacking Palestinian towns. Sometimes, we see them more intense in the
West Bank and at other time, in Gaza. Two weeks ago, the scene was in the
town of Jenin, north of West Bank. A month ago, it was the scene of leveling
down 73 houses in Rafah. Yesterday, Beit Hanoun faced the painful turn.
Of course, Israeli army was never short of excuses and answers. The easiest
answer expectedly is ・fighting terror・

As long as the world community remains dysfunctional and apathetic, the
above-described practices of Israeli government will keep continuing. With
that, the world community, if there is one to listen and act, can not be
considered fighting terror but actually enflaming it. Every one, members
of the world body, is a partner in the on going crime against an armless
civilian population trying to ride itself of a vicious and illegal occupation.